“Colorblindness is the new racism.”
Rasing Awarness about Privilege using color insight
Margalynne J. Armstrong and Stephanie M. Wildman
“Whites may observe the discriminatory treatment of non-whites and consider only the disadvantages that flow from being non-white without having to consider any of the benefits of appearing to be white”
Yes, I would agree with this. Honestly, I mostly view racism as a set of disadvantages that certain people experience, whether it be lower pay or access to healthcare, or just treatment in general, and I rarely see racism as a benefit to myself. I know in class we talked about how most healthcare studies are done on white men, so by the exclusion of other groups, I now have access to better knowledge on people who are like me. While others suffer because that research does not reflect them, and hasn’t for a long time.
I found the section on education and colorblindness on pages 64 and 65 particularly thought-provoking. It immediately made me think of recent efforts to disband the U.S. Department of Education and the uncertainty surrounding its role in funding Title I schools—those with a high percentage of low-income families. Earlier this year, I found myself spiraling a bit, wondering how our school would continue to meet all our students’ needs with reduced—or at least uncertain—funding. During that time, I started researching the average cost per student in our district compared to others. (You can look here if you're curious.) I was surprised to find that affluent, high-performing districts like Barrington and East Greenwich spend around $18,000 to $19,000 per student, while districts with more low-income families—like Providence, Woonsocket, and Pawtucket—spend significantly more, between $22,000 and $27,000 per student. This surprised me because, having subbed in those affluent districts, I've seen the contrast firsthand. Their schools have advanced facilities—studio production rooms where students create their own morning news shows, high-end computer labs with 3D printers and graphic design tools. Meanwhile, many lower-income schools I’ve worked in have outdated buildings and far less access to modern technology.
Looking at the spending data alone, one might ask: if wealthier districts spend less and perform better, what are lower-performing schools doing wrong? But that perspective, much like racial colorblindness, misses the deeper context. It’s a kind of "income-blindness"—assuming all schools start on equal footing and ignoring the vastly different needs and challenges of low-income communities. Unless you've worked in these schools or have direct experience, you might not realize the extent of those differences—just as many white people may not fully understand the advantages that come with whiteness.
“The failure to acknowledge racial reality in the United States reinforces and solidifies existing racial inequality and white privilege.” (page 67) I think some white people are well-meaning when they talk about colorblindness in that they see it as treating everyone equally. I think there is a difference between the notion of colorblindness with social interactions and the institutional practice of color blindness, which doesn’t seem to address or recognize the racial inequalities that exist in our world.
“Color Insight requires its practitioners to observe, discuss, and analyze the operation of race and privilege in contemporary society.”
In reading about color insight, I liked that it seemed to first start with observation and reflection. I think it's a little easier as a white person to start with, simply observing the world around you and how race is playing a role. I remember my first job, long-term subbing in a school in Providence, and having a conversation with colleagues, and they were making observations about the race of the employees in the school. The racial divide in the school employees was clear; teachers and the principal were all white, behavioral interventions were all black, and the office staff was all Latino/Hispanic. I’d like to think this is just a symptom of systemic issues, but there was a clear racial division in each role. This is a useful exercise and helped me more clearly understand the difference between colorblindness and color insight, and how race has to be recognized.
